Shloka 1

Devanagari script

अविकाराय शुद्धाय नित्याय परमात्मने सदैकरूपरूपाय विष्णवे सर्वजिष्णवे

Transliteration

avikārāya śuddhāya nityāya paramātmane sadaikarūparūpāya viṣṇave sarvajiṣṇave

Translation

Salutation to Viṣṇu—unchanging, perfectly pure, eternal; the Supreme Self—ever of one undivided essence and form; the all-pervading Lord, victorious over all.

Word by Word

• अविकाराय: to the unchanging
• अविकाराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्धाय: to the pure
• शुद्धाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नित्याय: to the eternal
• नित्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; विशेषण

• परमात्मने: to the Supreme Self
• परमात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘परमः आत्मा’

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• एक-रूप-रूपाय: to him whose form is ever one
• एक-रूप-रूपाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘एकरूपस्य रूपम्’/‘one-form nature’; विशेषण

• विष्णवे: to Viṣṇu
• विष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• सर्वजिष्णवे: to the all-conquering
• सर्वजिष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषु जिष्णुः’ (all-conquering); विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (invocatory verse at the opening of his teaching to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Invocation describing Viṣṇu’s immutable, pure, eternal nature as Paramātman

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: reverent

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is immutable, eternally pure Paramātman, of one undivided essence, worthy of exclusive refuge and praise.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Begin study and worship with remembrance of the Lord’s nitya-śuddha nature to steady the mind and orient devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Stresses the Lord’s unchanging perfection while remaining the personal Supreme Self accessible to devotion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as ‘avikāra’ (unchanging) in the Vishnu Purana?

It establishes Vishnu as the unmodified Supreme Reality behind all changing creation, making cosmology and history dependent on an eternal, stable divine ground.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme Self (Paramātman) through this opening verse?

By invoking Vishnu as pure, eternal, and ever of one essential form, Parāśara frames his teaching as revelation of the highest principle rather than a merely mythic narrative.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu being called ‘sarvajiṣṇu’ (conqueror of all) here?

It presents Vishnu as the ultimate sovereign over all powers—cosmic, moral, and temporal—so every cycle of creation and dissolution is ultimately under his supremacy.